There was a time when prospectors searched for hidden minerals in the ground armed only with a slingshot carved from a hazelnut bush and treated with a secret technique. Holding the slingshot with both hands at the forks, the prospector would walk across the land, pointing the sharp end forward. It was believed that above a deposit of ore, the hazelnut branch would tremble, indicating where the treasure lay hidden.
Today, you won’t find such “geologists” anywhere except in old illustrations. Modern methods of mineral exploration have replaced the hazelnut vine. Nowadays, geologists increasingly rely on airplanes in their search efforts. They equip these planes with specialized instruments and fly at low altitudes over unexplored areas.
These instruments help locate not only deposits of metallic ores but also oil, asbestos, and other minerals buried up to 100 meters deep.